The 4 A Guidelines of an Excellent Lasik Surgeon
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The 4 A Guidelines of an Excellent Lasik Surgeon
Dr. John Suson MD is an ophthalmologist and a clinical instructor at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Currently, Dr. Suson is in private practice with his sister at their “Suson Eye Specialists” clinic. For more information, visit http://www.supereyes.com
Seeking the right surgeon to perform your Lasik eye surgery may seem like a daunting task. Where do you begin and what do you look for? To simplify and focus your search think of the 4 A guidelines:
1) Ability
2) Availability
3) Accountability
4) Affability
Ability: The most obvious trait that we look for when seeking medical care is the ability of the doctor. What is the level of skill, knowledge, and training? Some of that can be discerned by reputation in the community and word of mouth. But more specific things to look for are level of certification and schooling. Not only is it important to know that your surgeon graduated from an excellent medical school and ophthalmology residency training program, but you may want to know if they are board certified in ophthalmology as well. Are they members in good standing within the medical community and licensing boards of your state?
The level of training of the support staff is just as important. In some centers, your surgeon may not be the one performing all preoperative and postoperative tests and exams. If these tasks are delegated to an optometrist by your surgeon, then you should also feel comfortable with their level of certification.
Ability also refers to the technology and equipment used by your surgeon. There is actually a wide variance in technology used from premium versus discount laser centers. Make sure that you understand the technologies available and that you are comfortable with the systems used by your surgeon. A cheaper center may mean the use of blades in your Lasik surgery whereas the current most advanced Lasik uses entirely laser systems. Whatever technology that your surgeon uses, make sure that you fully research the options and that you are satisfied with your choice.
Availability: Lasik is eye surgery and requires careful follow-up at specific intervals. The surgeon should be present for those exams but, just as importantly, they need to be available in the case of an emergency. Some centers, in an effort to cut costs, are not actually open during many usual business days and hours. In these cases, a discount center may only be open a couple of days during the week and nobody may be available if you experience unexpected pain, loss of vision, or an unforeseen complication. I have personally been called in a number of cases to see patients that had recent Lasik eye surgery and experienced an unexpected emergency but their surgeon was not available to see them for several days. In fact, in one case, the center was closed Monday through Wednesday morning and was not even answering the phone.
Although most Lasik surgery proceeds smoothly, the nature of emergencies is that they cannot be predicted. So every reputable eye surgery clinic and center should make reasonable accommodations for contact or emergency call coverage in the event that the primary surgeon is unavailable. Simply closing the doors for 2 or 3 days a week and having an answering machine refer patients to an Emergency Room is irresponsible. Another often overlooked point is that many discount Lasik chains in the last few years have filed for bankruptcy and may not be available to take care of your needs in the months or years to come. If possible, it would be important to look into the financial status of your prospective Lasik center with an internet search.
Accountability: Medical device manufacturers and surgical practices are accountable to a number of federal and state agencies. A number of sources can be researched to look for irregularities in the practices of a clinic or Lasik center. The internet and Google are great tools for researching the background of your Lasik surgeon and the Laser center. These government agencies exist to regulate medical practices and equipment and to keep you safe and informed. Their websites can be searched directly.
Agencies that are important yet often overlooked are the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FTC website can be searched to see if your laser center has any history of false advertising, irregular business practices, or unrealistic promises. The FDA regulates medical equipment like lasers and their use to assure proper standards. Any warning letters on the FDA website should be researched and problems fully explained and resolved to your satisfaction before considering a Laser center.
Affability: Lastly, the personality and attitude of your surgeon toward you and your concerns is critical. Meet with your surgeon for an evaluation and make sure that you are comfortable with their attitude, manner, and demeanor. Not only should they have an attitude of excellence, but also remember that their personality should mesh with yours in a way that you can feel relaxed and at ease during the Lasik procedure. You would be surprised that at many centers you are not even allowed to meet the surgeon prior to the Lasik procedure. In general, if your surgeon can help you feel at ease and relaxed as much as possible, it will be a better experience for you and the technical aspects of the surgery will go more smoothly too.
Because Lasik surgery in general is a very effective procedure, every surgeon has many happy patients so it is not hard to find satisfied people that will give you a word of mouth referral. But it is important to extend your search beyond what a friend or family member says. The 4 A guidelines are a great starting point to begin your evaluation of potential Lasik surgeons. Use them to cut through the confusion and focus your internet search. If your surgery center passes the test on the first 3 A guidelines, then you can take it to the final level. The final A (Affability) is a reminder to go beyond the impersonal internet and actually talk with your surgeon. Most reputable clinics will offer a free evaluation so that you have no commitment and can make your choice freely. With these guidelines, you can make a clear and educated decision about your Lasik surgeon and center.
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